TOGETHER!

The annual high point of Dallas Seminary’s academic year, its raison d’être, was celebrated yesterday—the commencement exercises. As always, it was an delightful and emotional, marked, at its close by the enthusiastic, robust, and joyful raising of voices to sing the Seminary hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (Diadem). Particularly poignant for the DTS community is the traditional “solo” on the third verse by just the faculty and students, together in magnificent harmony.

Let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball,
To him all majesty ascribe,
And crown him Lord of all!
Edward Perronet, 1779

A “solo” by a “group.” Indeed, it is with the collective voices and lives of the redeemed, together, that God is praised, magnified, and glorified—by every kindred, tribe, and tongue, and nation. Together. All as one.

And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You … for You were slain,
and purchased for God with Your blood
people from every tribe and tongue
and people and nation.”
Revelation 5:9

Always impressive is the cheering crowd that gathers for these events—family, friends, and well-wishers of the graduating students. (Yes, I did have my camera with me while sitting in the ozone layer onstage with the rest of my faculty colleagues at Prestonwood Baptist Church.) Quite appropriately, our Dean gives students an opportunity to turn around and acknowledge and applaud the supportive efforts of all of these precious ones in their lives, without which their years of hard work would not—could not!—have come to fruition. Graduation ceremonies celebrate the group activity accomplished, not in solo, but in concert. Together. All as one.

It’s not just academic achievements that call for the co-agency of many acting in concord. Christian life, itself, is one of cooperation and coalescence, in chorus.

And let us consider
how to stimulate one another
to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own assembling together
… but encouraging one another ….
Hebrews 10:24–25

For the way is difficult, often dreary, sometimes dreadful. The loads are heavy; the hurdles are high. No one can do it solo. We need one another.

Bear one another’s burdens,
and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Jesus’ law of love.

“A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another.”
John 13:34

Voices in harmony, raised together. Varieties of body parts, working together.

… through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13

No doubt, the way is fraught with friction. Dissensions threaten and discords menace.

So, as those who have been chosen of God,
holy and beloved,
put on a heart of compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience;
bearing with one another,
and forgiving each other,
Colossians 3:12–13

And those who have trodden those paths before us and gone on to glory ahead of us—they cheer us on.

Therefore, since we have so great
a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance
and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus ….
Hebrews 12:1–2

Until that day, that soon-coming day, when we will join them to sing again that grand new song in the presence of the One who called us, redeemed us, and comforts us—for the glory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.

O that, with yonder sacred throng,
We at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Edward Perronet

Amen!